Novo Nordisk and Valo Expand

Novo Nordisk A/S and Valo Health, Inc. have announced an expanded collaboration to discover and develop innovative treatments for obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. This partnership leverages Valo’s human-centric datasets and cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) technology alongside Novo Nordisk’s expertise in cardiometabolic diseases.

A Growing Partnership

Initially established in September 2023, the collaboration focused on up to 11 drug programs primarily targeting cardiovascular diseases, with Valo eligible for up to $2.7 billion in milestone payments, R&D funding, and potential royalties.

The expanded agreement now includes an additional nine drug programs, increasing the total to 20. Valo will receive an upfront payment, equity investment, and a near-term milestone payment totaling $190 million. Over the lifetime of the partnership, Valo stands to earn up to $4.6 billion in milestone payments, in addition to R&D funding and royalty opportunities.

Harnessing AI to Drive Innovation

Central to this collaboration is Valo’s Opal Computational Platform™, which integrates advanced AI with human genetic and longitudinal health data to identify novel therapeutic targets and develop effective treatments.

Marcus Schindler, executive vice president and chief scientific officer at Novo Nordisk, expressed enthusiasm for the progress made so far:
"The first year of our partnership with Valo has been highly productive. Expanding our focus to include obesity and type 2 diabetes, in addition to cardiovascular disease, aligns with Novo Nordisk’s ambition to bring a greater number of innovative drug programs to the clinic."

The partnership has already identified several promising drug targets, paving the way for new approaches to treating cardiometabolic diseases.

Real-World Data and AI in Action

Brian Alexander, CEO of Valo Health, highlighted the significance of this collaboration:
"This expanded partnership reflects the renaissance in cardiometabolic disease treatment. By combining Valo’s Opal Platform with Novo Nordisk’s expertise, we’re harnessing human-centric AI and real-world patient data to identify, validate, and develop new drug candidates rapidly."

The collaboration spans the full drug discovery process, from identifying therapeutic targets in vast patient datasets to designing small molecules with AI. Both companies aim to address overlapping challenges at the intersection of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

A Promising Future for Cardiometabolic Health

This enhanced collaboration signals a shared commitment to transforming cardiometabolic care. With a broader scope and additional resources, Novo Nordisk and Valo Health are well-positioned to bring next-generation treatments to patients worldwide.

By integrating AI-driven insights and human-centric research, this partnership not only advances drug discovery but also sets a new standard for collaboration in addressing complex diseases.